4. Get a case conference date
Question & Answer
What happens at a first court date in my family court case?You do not have a first court date if your case is at the:
- Superior Court of Justice
- Family Court Branch of the Superior Court of Justice and deals with a or
If your case doesn't have a first court date, you or your partner have to ask the at the courthouse to schedule a for your case to move forward.
The court clerk gives you a date for your case conference and signs Form 17: Conference Notice. You must this on your partner.
At a case conference, you and your partner, and your lawyers if you have them, meet with a judge to discuss and try to agree on your issues.
Dispute resolution officers
Some locations of the Superior Court of Justice and Family Court Branch of the Superior Court of Justice have dispute resolution officers (DRO). They are not judges but are experienced family law lawyers trained to help people resolve their issues.
